Another Exciting Chapter for The Food Bank of Manatee | | |
The Food Bank of Manatee is the only food bank based in Manatee County and the largest hunger relief organization in our community. Our services are a literal lifeline to babies, children, families, and seniors in need in our area. In addition, we are the leading local source of relief in crisis situations like hurricane recovery.
We are expanding The Food Bank of Manatee to better meet the needs of food-insecure residents in Manatee County. The expansion project will increase our capacity to better serve the community with a focus on infrastructure, technology, and outreach.
You can read more about this exciting expansion project by clicking here! Join us in Expanding Hope for our community!
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We are grateful to the teams at Lazy Lobster and Kasey’s Seafood for turning the spirit of giving into action this summer. Through their “Thanksgiving in June” food drive, they collected a combined 558 pounds of food to help feed local families through The Food Bank of Manatee.
This kind of support is a reminder that hunger doesn’t take a vacation, and thanks to local businesses like these, our neighbors don’t have to face it alone.
Huge thanks to everyone who donated and helped make “Thanksgiving in June” a success!
| | Holiday Blanket Program Wraps Seniors in Comfort and Care | | |
Each holiday season, something special happens at Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. Along with the meals we deliver to our Home-delivered Meals Clients, we also deliver a little extra warmth a—handmade blanket—lovingly donated by members of our community. These blankets are not just fabric and yarn; they are a reminder that someone out there cares.
Many of our clients live alone. For them, the holidays can be quiet and lonely. But when they receive a soft, handcrafted blanket made just for them, it brings more than physical warmth, it brings connection, comfort, and the reassurance that they are not forgotten.
Thanks to the generosity of local knitters, quilters, and crafters, we are able to brighten the holidays for hundreds of seniors across Manatee County. Every stitch tells a story of kindness.
If you’d like to contribute to this heartwarming tradition, we welcome donations of new, handmade blankets year-round. Please reach out to us at 941-747-4655 to find out more. It’s a small gesture that makes a big difference!
| | Friendship Dining Center Gets Competitive with Noodle Hockey! | | |
Things got lively at the Friendship Dining Center during a spirited game of noodle hockey. Seated in two parallel rows, participants used colorful pool noodles to pass and swat a foam ball back and forth. There is no running, no standing, just quick reflexes and lots of laughter.
Noodle hockey has become a favorite activity here. It is fun, safe, and it keeps everyone engaged. While the rules are simple, the energy is real. Players got into the game, cheering each other on and showing off some serious coordination.
Activities like this are more than just entertainment, they help support physical movement, social interaction, and a sense of community. That is what the Friendship Dining Center is all about.
Turns out, a noodle, a ball, and a room full of people ready to play is all you need for a good time!
| | Bowling Fun at Daybreak Adult Day Center | | |
There is never a dull moment at Daybreak Adult Day Center—and our recent bowling activity brought out everyone’s competitive (and playful) spirit!
Using lightweight pins and a soft ball, clients enjoyed a friendly round of indoor bowling right from their seats. Laughter filled the room as each person took their turn, aiming for a strike and cheering one another on. It was not just about knocking down pins, it was about building connections, staying active, and having fun together.
Activities like these are a core part of the care we provide, supporting coordination, encouraging social interaction, and giving our clients something to look forward to. Judging by the smiles, this one was a clear winner.
We are proud to offer a safe, engaging space where older adults can thrive, one strike at a time!
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We are so excited to announce that we are featured in Target Circle™!
Vote for us in the Target app to direct Target funds that support our work.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Choose ‘My Target’ in the Target app or ‘Account’ on Target.com
Step 2: Tap ‘Cast votes’
Step 3: Find us & vote
Voting is open now and ends on September 30th.
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Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee has been selected as the featured charity at the Bradentucky Bombers roller derby bout on August 9th, at Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex
5309 29th Street East Ellenton, FL 34222.There will be a raffle to raise funds for our programs.
Raffle tickets:
- 2 canned goods = 1 ticket
- $4 = 1 ticket
- $10 = 3 tickets
You can also support us by purchasing tickets to the bout through Eventbrite using the promo code MEALS25. For every ticket sold using our code, we receive $5 back to support our mission. Click here to buy your tickets
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We are excited to announce that Meals on Wheels PLUS has been selected to participate in the 1905 Family of Restaurants' 28th Annual Community Harvest this September!
This September, 5% of your guest check will be donated to the non-profit you choose, just make sure to vote for us when you dine at any of the seven Columbia Restaurant locations, or at Cha Cha Coconuts, Ulele, or Casa Santo Stefano.
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A big thank-you goes out to Neal Communities and their partners for their incredible support of The Food Bank of Manatee during their recent food drive!
Thanks to the generosity of their team and residents, we picked up 182 pounds of food from the North River Ranch Clubhouse and an outstanding 2,256 pounds from Neal Land’s headquarters, bringing the total to a whopping 2,438 pounds of non-perishable food donated to help local families in need.
Their efforts come at a critical time, as summer brings increased demand at The Food Bank while traditional donation levels tend to drop. Every can, box, and bag collected makes a real difference for the more than 100 local food pantries and partner organizations we serve.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Neal Land Communities for organizing this drive and making such a powerful impact. Your dedication to helping neighbors in need truly reflects the spirit of community that keeps our mission moving forward.
Thank you for helping us feed Manatee County!
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Each week, 25–30 volunteers make our Food4Families distributions possible. Before a single bag of food goes out the door, volunteers are in our warehouse packing them up. When it is time to deliver, they are out at sites across Manatee County—rain or shine—handing them out to local families.
A big thank you to the volunteer groups that have stepped up to help recently: First Watch, Woodland Baptist Church, Eco Lab, ODA, and Synovus Bank. Your time and effort mean everything to the families we serve.
Whether it is packing bags, sorting food, directing traffic, or offering a smile to someone in line, every volunteer plays a role. You are the reason thousands of families in Manatee County have food on the table. We are grateful for each and every one of you!
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Aaron, a 12-year-old local student, decided he wanted to help fight hunger in his community. On his own, he wrote and printed letters asking for donations of canned goods, baby food, and other non-perishable items to support the work of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. Then, with quiet determination, he went door-to-door delivering his letter and picking up donations.
“I think community service is important because we all need to try to make the world and our community a better place,” Aaron wrote.
He did not just talk about making a difference, he made one! In just a short time, Aaron collected an incredible 351 pounds of food, all of which went directly to help feed families in need through The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS.
Aaron’s actions are a powerful reminder that you are never too young to make a meaningful impact. With a simple idea, genuine effort, and a caring spirit, one person, no matter their age, can do a whole lot of good.
Thank you, Aaron, for your generosity and for being a shining example of what community looks like in action.
| | Food Distribution Programs |August 2025 | | If you are a senior needing meals delivered to your home, we can help! Our Home-delivered Meals program is available to Manatee County residents. | | The Food Bank of Manatee, a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, provides non-perishable food items to local food pantries and soup kitchens. | | |
Our Mobile Produce Pantry will be out and about in the community providing fresh and nutritious produce free of charge.
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